| Considering a Career in Health Care?
|
| |
| 1. Meet the UScholars academic advisors. They will have up-to-date information about various health careers and will assist you in assessing your interests and abilities. If you don't like the idea of “blood and guts” you might not want to consider nursing, medicine or dentistry. Hospital administration or medical records would be better choices. If you are fascinated with lab courses in chemistry and biology a career in research or medical technology might be considered |
| 2. Spend your summer working or volunteering in a health care setting. If you think you want to become a physician, dentist, or physical therapist contact a local hospital, dental office, or physical therapy clinic to volunteer. Major hospitals have volunteer coordinators and provide organized training sessions. It is also possible to do paid work in one of these settings. When the time comes to apply to a professional school, letters of recommendation from these settings will weigh heavily in the admission committee’s decision. If you are unsure of your career choice, tell the volunteer director that you would like an opportunity to observe a variety of health care fields. The large hospitals in the Texas Medical Center (Herman, M.D. Anderson, Texas Children’s Hospital) have many openings for college students. The Medical Center Newsletter is a bi-weekly newspaper that is available on campus and throughout the Texas Medical Center. Each edition lists volunteer positions that are currently open. The best way to be sure of your chosen career is to “shadow” professionals in that field. Do your parents have friends who work in the medical field? Do you have a neighbor who works in your prospective career field? Ask your physician or dentist if you might volunteer in their office. Utilize these resources in exploring a career |
| 3. If you have chosen a career, gather as much information as possible. For example, if you are considering a career as an optometrist, make an appointment to have your eyes examined at our College of Optometry and then ask as many questions as possible. The student who is assisting you will be happy to share his or her experiences with you. |
| 4. Join organizations that promote health professions. Our campus supports a number of health related clubs and honor societies. These clubs organize speakers and tours of professional schools. Leadership in organizations is another factor admissions directors consider when accepting students. |
| 5. All health careers involve teamwork. Physicians, dentists, physical therapists, respiratory therapists, nurses, etc. are all members of a healthcare team. Demonstrate to admission committees that you are a good team player by organizing study groups and helping fellow classmates in lab. This assistance will be noticed by an instructor and will be noted in that very important letter of recommendation you will need in a couple of years. |
| 6. GET TO KNOW YOUR INSTRUCTORS. Do not be intimidated by large classes. If you sit in the front row, you will have eye contact with your instructor. Professors have office hours and most enjoy getting to know their students. Remember, college faculty chose to teach because they like students! |
| 7. When selecting your first semester classes, consider your own personality and interests. Don’t register for 8:00 am classes if you will be commuting from twenty miles away or if you are not a morning person. As you become adjusted to college life, changes in your schedule will be easier. If you will have a part time job, allow time for that and the commuting time to and from work. Plan two to three hours of study time for each hour you will be in class each day. Balance your course load. One or two lab science or math classes should be matched with classes that have more reading material. Some departments and colleges offer courses to provide an introduction to various health careers. On our campus, courses are offered by the College of Pharmacy(Introduction to Pharmacy) and the College of Optometry (Introduction to Health Professions). Your health professions advisors will have information about these courses. |
| 8. Be sure to get some physical exercise each day to clear your head and keep your life balanced. |
| 9. Purchase an alarm clock. If you miss class your grades will suffer. |
| 10. Watch your credit card debt. There are many opportunities to get credit cards. If you accumulate credit card debt or you have notations of late payments, you might be sacrificing an opportunity to have loans for professional school. Medical schools have rescinded acceptances because students were unable to qualify for financial aid. The Consumer Credit Counseling Service has a program on the UH campus to assist students with their budgets. Take advantage of this opportunity. |
11. For further information about specific health careers please meet with an advisor at the Undergraduate Scholars @ UH offices in rm. 56-M.D. Anderson Library, basement level, southeast entrance, weekdays from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. |
